AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT PETERSON BRANDS

Shelby, Michigan-based Peterson Brands, a major fruit processing and beverage supplier, has announced the permanent closure of its juice manufacturing plant in Fort Myers, Florida, by June 27, 2026.

The closure will affect 135 employees, the entire workforce of the facility, including positions from production operators to management.

It appears that the decision represents a rebalancing of the company's operations, as the plant was acquired in August 2024.

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT AEROFARMS

Newark, New Jersey-based AeroFarms, an indoor vertical farming operation producing micro bok choy, micro kale, micro broccoli, micro arugula, etc. for premium retailers, has announced the closure of its 140,000-square-foot vertical farming facility in Ringgold, Virginia.

Approximately 133 employees will be impacted with layoffs commencing on April 17, 2026.

As of March 2026, AeroFarms is in the process of selling its business following the signing of a nonbinding Letter of Intent, with a target transaction close in March 2026.

Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT FLAGSTONE FOODS

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Flagstone Foods, a national manufacturer of nut snacks, has announced it will downsize its El Paso, Texas, facility.

The downsizing will affect 22 employees in El Paso, Texas, scheduled for the end of December 2025. The El Paso facility will be solely dedicated to the production of Emerald-branded nuts starting in 2026.

CEO Larry Appel noted, “We recognize that this decision impacts the lives of many of our team members and their families. Our colleagues have performed well, and this is no reflection on their work but simply a necessary transition in our operations to best serve our customers. While we had initially anticipated seeing workforce growth in El Paso, consumer preferences drive our production priorities as they do any company, and we must evolve in this direction to best serve our customers.

“We remain committed to not simply operating in El Paso but making the facility a ‘best-in-class’ snack nut producer, focusing squarely on our Emerald brand of products. We are committed to supporting each team member impacted through this transition, including providing severance packages and robust job search assistance to ensure each of our colleagues has a roadmap to their next career path.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?